September 2006 Security Survey: CIOs Have High Confidence in Security Vendors

By Allan Alter |
Posted 09-19-2006

September 2006 Security Survey: CIOs Have High Confidence in Security Vendors

Viruses, Trojan horses, malware given all the damage they can do, these online nasties ought to be scaring the pants off IT executives. But three-quarters of IT executives still believe they have adequate protection because of the high degree of confidence in their antivirus software, antispyware software and virtual private networks. A remarkable 96% of our respondents say they have an adequate antivirus software solution in place. Across the board, in fact, more IT executives express confidence in every kind of security technology. But there's another ace up the sleeve: More companies now have a broad corporate security strategy and have linked that strategy to their overall risk strategy.

Overall satisfaction with security

technologies is keeping confidence levels high.">
Finding 5: Overall satisfaction with security technologies is keeping confidence levels high.Even though hackers and criminals have begun to exploit vulnerabilities
in antivirus software, IT executives still show enormous confidence in their antivirus and antispyware software. In fact, satisfaction with security technology has risen for nearly every kind of security software. But technologies that prevent identity theft continue to lag behind.

The adoption of comprehensive

strategies is also boosting confidence.">Finding 6: The adoption of comprehensive strategies is also boosting confidence.More companies have adopted an enterprisewide IT-security strategy and have connected it to their risk strategy, indicating that security is becoming better aligned overall. Yet many respondents complain their company doesn't take a strategic enough approach to security. Is that why there are still holes remaining in security policies and procedures, as our later findings reveal?

Research Guide:

Finding 1: Employee negligence and Microsoft vulnerabilities are considered the most significant IT-security risks

Finding 2: Almost half of large companies have been targeted by online criminals.

Finding 3: One company in six has lost equipment containing company data in the past year.